ELIZABETH SCOT, the author of these poems, was the daughter of David Rutherford, Esquire, Counsellor at Edinburgh; whose country‐residence was Hermiston‐hall, an ancient mansion in that neighbourhood. Our author was born at Edinburgh, 1729. Here she was early taught the Latin and French languages, and became a ready proficient in many branches of the belles lettres. Her predilection for poetry appeared at an early period. She courted the Muses from her childhood; and not only read, but wrote verses in her eleventh year. A copy, written at this early period, was found among her other poems.

It was no small gratification to her numerous and respectable friends, to mark the progress of her genius; improved, as it was, by culture, and strengthened by study. Her first friend and guide in the walks of poetry was Allen Ramsay. He tuned her yet unpolished lays. On his maturer judgment and refined taste she reposed with confidence. In the number of her literary correspondents was Thomas Blacklock, the blind poet. He constantly mentioned Miss Rutherford as a writer, whose talents were superior, and whose poetry was deserving of praise. He was partial to the poem, entitled Solitude and Sadness; and called it one of the most beautiful little poems he had ever read.

Her acquaintance with Burns, and the just opinion she had formed of his abilities, appear from her letter to that poet. He, in his reply, expresses his obligations for the presents he had received, and applauds in the same verse the poetry and the plaid. These two letters, together with that of Blacklock, were never published till now. They may therefore be considered as a small accession to that interesting correspondence, which the late elegant edition of Burns's works comprises. It might have been expected that here, among other correspondents, the name of our author had obtained a place. Frequent and respectful mention is made in these volumes of her ingenious friend Miss Williams; whose sonnet on the Mountain‐Daisy the writer of these poems admired and transcribed. See Dr. Moore's 13th letter to Burns, where this sonnet is inserted in a Note.

Our poetess was no less celebrated for her personal attractions, than for her intellectual endowments. The youth, who shared her affections, and with whom she was supposed to have consented to pass the remainder of her days, was unfortunately drowned in his passage from Edinburgh to Ireland. The recollection of his disastrous fate clouded her future prospects. In this reverse of fortune she had recourse to poetry; —canit, & moestum Musâ solatur amorem. To assuage the anguish of disappointment, and sooth her sorrows, she exchanged the sprightly for the mournful Muse, and gave a decided preference to elegy.

Our author, at rather an advanced period, married Mr. Walter Scot, a country‐gentleman of considerable property in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh.

Lest it should be conjectured from the late appearance of these poems, that their publication formed no part of the writer's design, it may be proper to mention, that some few poems, which are inserted in this collection, were corrected by herself with a view to the press. These, with some other poems, were intrusted to a friend, alike eminent for his talents and employments, to be revised by his care, and printed by his direction. But her friend's removal to a distance, and her own death in 1789, put a period to this projected plan, and the poems were returned to the Editor.